Sunday Morning, August 9, 2009 Dr. Roger Barrier Senior Teaching Pastor. ASK ROGER QUESTIONS 2 nd Sunday S-1780

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1 Sunday Morning, August 9, 2009 Dr. Roger Barrier Senior Teaching Pastor ASK ROGER QUESTIONS 2 nd Sunday S-1780 SLIDE #1: PITI Front page Explain Ask Roger SLIDE #2: Julie Story on PreachitTeachit.org Dear Roger, Are you going to preach on what happens when your step-father brings his son home to live in your family? Name Unknown Dear Roger, We ve recently remarried after the failure of our first marriages? How can we successfully blend our two families into one? Anonymous Roger, I was recently asked when people of skin tone other than white as an indicator of racial or ethnic affiliation first appeared in the Bible. Was it before the tower of Babel? Sincerely, Matt SLIDE #3 Roger, I have chronic migraines and live in daily pain. When I attended Casas, some people in an ABF I joined blamed my illness on Satan and Generational Curses. SLIDE #4 Are all physical and mental illnesses caused by Satan or some kind of Curse? I grew up Mormon and this seemed to make them more sure that I was cursed in some way. Thanks, Sarah. I grieve deeply for your misery. Few things are more debilitating than the onset and progression of a migraine headache attack. You needed comfort and you experienced condemnation. I am really sorry that happened to you even though your friends obviously had your best interests at heart. No one knows exactly what precipitates migraines. nerve cells in the brain release inflammation causing substances that cause constriction and swelling of the blood vessels. The swelling and constricting of the vessels move back and forth in what I call a harmonic wave progression from front to back of the brain causing the intense throbbing of the migraine. The reason that your friends in ABF brought those three things to you is because each of their concerns has some validity and are worth looking into. Are sicknesses ever caused by Satan? Yes! Paul s thorn in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. pleaded But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you," Are generational curses real? Sins of the fathers can be passed on to the children unto the third and fourth generation. Can Migraines be caused by exposure to Mormonism? The answer to this question might well be yes, Mormonism rests upon the transference of religious tenants from the angel, Maroni, to Joseph Smith. The message of Mormonism with 1

2 its steps to earn the highest heaven is in direct opposition to the gospel of salvation by faith in Christ and His saving work on the cross. Salvation is a free gift from God, not a reward to be earned (Galatians 2:8-9). DRAW SLIDE # 5: Faith + Nothing = Salvation SLIDE #6: Galatians 1:8-9: But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! (repeat) Anyone preaches a different gospel from the one Paul preached and is thus under a curse. Nevertheless, I doubt seriously that your migraines are a result of any of the above three things. They didn t give you the fourth option: FALLEN WORLD Cover all the angles. pray for God s healing, then consider a Satanic attack Prayer by church leaders If the problem persists then consider that your migraines are one of the tragic results of a world fallen into disarray because of the sin (Genesis 3). Grace is Sufficient! SLIDE #7: Hi Roger, What would you say to someone who states that they can't help their homosexuality? Someone who believes that they were born that way and that they can't help the way they feel. I'm always at a loss for words when this comes up and I don't know exactly where to point them in scripture. Thanks, L homosexuality is by far the most often Ask Roger question. PRAY ABF: Several no tolerance for the behavior and no tolerance for those involved in the lifestyle. They saw it, homosexuality was a choice and those involved made a choice they could unmake if they wanted to get right with God. As these people spoke, I chanced a glance at a woman on the other side of the room, sitting with his head down and quietly crying. You were struggling with what she was saying, weren t you? Yes. My second son is gay. All was quiet. One thing to criticize in the theoretical abstract. Another if it is your son or daughter and you are crying. Won t leave you with simple answers. Thought provoking as you reach your own conclusions. SLIDE #8: Priorities Scripture Scientific findings Bring everyone to a saving knowledge of Christ Let s examine the Biblical material. SLIDE # 9: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor 2

3 drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. We need to be especially vigilant to avoid focusing on homosexuality to the exclusion of the others. The next passage describes God s judgment on a world which has rejected Him. SLIDE # 10: Romans 1:24-27: Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Epithumia, sinful desires really means a reaching out after pleasure that defies all reason. It s like saying, What in the world are they doing!!? Even the words Paul uses for females (θηλυς) and even the males (αρσην) are not the normal Greek words for men and women. Paul used the animal terms for male and female. Picture of society degenerating into sex.-focus no longer on spiritual things of Christ. Let s now overview some of the current scientific research regarding homosexuality., remembering that you may have a genetic pre-disposition, but if you act on unhealthy behaviors, you will reinforce those tendencies and make it very difficult to change. DRAW SLIDE # 11: First an understanding of genes and how they work. 23 pairs of chromosomes in nucleus one pair each from mom and dad Chromosomes are made of DNA Double helix (ACGT) stretches like 20 miles Genes and junk DNA Some genes are like fate. Huntington s disease depends on repeats. Most depend on interactions with environment and nature to turn them off and on. Narcissism and anti-social personality disorder. Scientific research indicates that the gay lifestyle is hardwired into both the anatomical and chemical make up of the brain of some individuals. On the other hand, some and predisposed to others based on whether or not certain environmental factors are turned on or off. Remember that you may have a genetic pre-disposition, but if you act on unhealthy behaviors, you will reinforce those tendencies and make it very difficult to change. We are not all just alike. The anatomy of the gay brain is slightly different from heterosexuals. For example, the gay hypothalamus is about 2/3 the size of the heterosexual hypothalamus Muscles, contractions, emotions and heart rate 3

4 The thickness of the Corpus Callosum, which sends interacting signals between the left and right sides of the brain, is midway in size between heterosexual male and female sizes. The tendency to be homo or hetero sexual is influenced by the amount of testosterone produced in mother s womb during pregnancy. The more testosterone the more likely to be heterosexual. The less, the more likely to be gay this probably has to do with mom s genetic immune system reacting to each new male child. By the way, we can get an approximate value on the amount of testosterone present in mother s womb during our prenatal days by measuring the proportionate size between our ring and index fingers. The longer our ring finger is in proportion to our pointer finger, the more testosterone in the womb. Women How Much Estrogen: take off right shoe, compare size of big and little toes just kidding. Also, you might find interesting the positive correlation between the sexual orientation of mom s brothers and homosexuality. A homosexual brother on mom s side has a positive correlation with a homosexual nephew. Take Aways, or things you might consider as you reach your own conclusions regarding this subject. SLIDE #12: 1. Proverb 25:2: It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. Church has trouble handling scientific truth. We don t know what to do with it. Scientific truth threatens us. No one wants to move out of their understanding and paradigm. Galileo to recant his scientific discoveries that the earth actually revolved around the sun and not the sun around the earth. Galileo s beliefs contradicted the Biblical interpretation of the Church at that time. We have handicapped our youth from discovering. We need to champion our youth to uncover. 2. Pray for repentance throughout our nation. 3. Parents of homosexuals be at peace. You did not cause your child s homosexuality, nor are you responsible for fixing it. There was once a widespread belief that homosexuality was the result of overbearing mothers and quiet, submissive and uninvolved fathers. This is not true. Studies reveal that dads tend to shy away from their homosexual sons because they are not necessarily manly. Mom then becomes over protective of her rejected son. SLIDE #13: 4. Beware of succumbing to either the Naturalistic Fallacy or the Moral Fallacy. Naturalistic Fallacy: This is the way things are; therefore, this is the way things ought to be. For example, I was born with MS this is the way it ought to be. No, it is not OK. Or, I was born homosexual; therefore my sexual orientation is OK. (You have to ask the question.) Moralistic Fallacy: This is the way things ought to be; therefore, this is the way they are. Women ought to just as good at science and mathematics as men, therefore any evidence to the contrary they are! (Harvard president). 4

5 Homosexuals have a choice, therefore, that is the way it is! SLIDE #14: 6. Remember that folks in the Gay and Lesbian community are real people and have the same needs and feelings as everyone else. They are people who need a savior, just like everyone else. By the way, how we handle the homosexual issue is one of the greatest challenges facing the church. I was having lunch with a Christian doctor friend of mine who is well versed in both Christianity and the genetic, chemical and environmental issues regarding homosexuals. We were discussing the complexities of Romans one and homosexual genetics when my friend said, This means that it is time for us to get off our high horses and let God be the Judge. We need to enter this arena with love and compassion! We know we are called to do that. SLIDE #15: Dear Roger, My husband & I would like to be cremated after our deaths. Our families do not approve. Is there scripture that will back us in our decision? B SLIDE #16: Dear Roger, What happens to America in the end times? Sincerely, Peter The quick answer is that no one knows. However, there are some Biblical and political possibilities. First, America is not even around for the end times. The average lifespan of large, significant Kingdom or national empires is about 300 years. Most of them fall apart because of military action from their neighbors, by collapsing from the inside, economically or morally; using up natural resources; changes in weather patterns; deteriorating relationships with trade partners. You can decide if you think America will exist as a nation much longer based on these factors. Second, if America is still in existence in the final days, she may align herself with the nations united from the territories of the old Roman Empire led by the Antichrist. If America has commitments pledging her allegiance and assistance to these nations of Europe and keeps them she will most likely meet her doom at the Battle of Armageddon. Finally, Revelation 12:13-17: Satan (the Dragon) is tossed from Heaven and charges after a fleeing woman (Israel) and her child (Jesus) and is rescued by an eagle. Since the eagle is the national bird of the United States, some postulate that this eagle saving the woman is a symbolic picture of the U.S. stepping in to protect Israel before Armageddon. SLIDE #17: Dear Roger, 5

6 I believe that I'm a +3 on my spiritual journey. I want to propel myself on the scale. What specific steps or what should I be doing to move on to step 4? Sincerely, Questioner from Casas What s Next Class. DRAW SLIDE #18: Explain Engel s Scale to help people determine just where they are on their spiritual journey. #3 chasm : surrounding the pocket book to God. New Christians are often told three things about what to do in order to mature in the Christian life: (1) read the Bible; (2) pray; and (3) go to church. These are three are just as essential for +1s as they are for +10s. Here is why. The Bible gives guidance and maturity as the Light of God s Word (Psalm 119:105). We find God s plans and intentions here. Prayer brings us into relationship with the Living Christ (John 7:37-39). Going to church brings us into the Light of God s people (Matthew 5:14-16). The Christian life is never an individual thing. It is always lived out in the context of relationships. SLIDE #19: Dear Roger, How can God forgive some one who kills people or rapes our children, a person who sins their whole lives [sic], and then accepts the Lord before their death bed? Anonymous Allowing last-second conversions for rapists and murderers is not fair. However, the Kingdom of God is not based on fairness. The Kingdom is based on Grace and Mercy. DRAW SLIDE # 20: Grace is when God gives people what they don t deserve. Mercy is when God doesn t give people what they do deserve. DRAW man receiving grace and mercy on death bed. Grace and Mercy means that they don t get Hell when they do deserve it. Grace and Mercy operate because of Christ s work on the cross to forgive everyone s sins not just the sins of the good people. Raise Hands: How many of you think you are pretty good? How many have sinned? Think of your sins if God were to let you into heaven we would wreck the place. Romans 3:22-24: There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. The real question is not so much, How can God let into Heaven rapists and murderers who surrender to Christ on their death beds? The real question is How can God allow any sinner into His perfect Heaven? Even one of our sins would defile the place! SLIDE #21: 1 Timothy 1:15: Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. 6

7 PS. While the ground at the foot of the cross is level, Hell has multiple levels. Peter identifies the lowest level as tartarus which is reserved for the demons who rebelled and were cast out of Heaven when Satan rebelled against God. Adolf Hitler is in a hotter level than a nice person who dies not having their sin not forgiven. White robes of purity and forgiveness when enter into Heaven. 7